Now, germ-killing charger that cleans your cellphone

Washington: A first-of-its-kind cellphone charger that uses ultraviolet light to kill germs and sanitise your device has been developed in the US.

The universal charger is the safest and most complete way to kill all the bacteria growing on the cellphone, its manufacturer Utah-based PhoneSoap claims.

Two UV-C lamps in PhoneSoap charger produce a very specific wavelength of light which encompass the phone and pass through the cell walls of bacteria and virus to impair their DNA.

Once the DNA is compromised, the cells die and can no longer cause infections or disease.

Users will get their notifications and alarms when their phones are inside the charger as it has unique acoustic outlets.

The device, which costs USD 59.95, is compatible with most phones. It takes four minutes to completely sanitise the phone, and a blue indicator on the front will let the user know when the sanitising is complete.

Previous studies have found that a cellphone carries more germs than a toilet seat.

A recent study at the University of Surrey found that most of the bacteria on cellphones are harmless but some disease carrying bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus can also occasionally be found.